Greenpoint’s Bar Matchless cancels all shows but resists closure from new landlord

It’s an unfortunately familiar, almost numbingly normal story: another beloved local haunt being threatened for its life by new landlords who refuse to renew a lease.

Bar Matchless, the 15-year-old Greenpoint eatery and music venue known for motorcycle racing and foosball, are finding attempts to negotiate a lease with their building’s new owner to be futile. Their 557 Manhattan Ave. home was recently sold, and bar owners Erik Green and Jack Drury told Greenpointers they’ve been asked to vacate the premises, and the new landlord has been unable to be reached for further discussion.

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Bar owners Erik Green and Jack Drury

Unable to confirm their continued existence at the location, Bar Matchless has cancelled all shows (they were booked through May of this year) but plans to stay put, “until they lock the doors on us,” Greene said, according to Greenpointers.

Bar Matchless opened its doors in 2003 next to a then squatter bike shop and has become known for being a “neighborhood beacon” and hangout haven. The owners estimate that, over the last 12 years, they’ve hosted some 15,000 bands and more than 5,000 shows, programming spanning four days a week on average. Since opening, Bar Matchless has seen some changes, like a programming revamp and brunch menu shift to keep the spirit of the neighborhood’s recently closed Park Luncheonette alive.

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Bar Matchless. Photo by Chop Cult

“The thing that made us a community favorite was because all of the bands from around NYC played,” said Drury.

For now, Bar Matchless is still open for late night food and drinks, but no shows, sadly.